Meroid-d

Meroid-d Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Diloxanide (as Diloxanide furoate) is an anti-protozoal drug used in the treatment of Entamoeba histolytica and some other protozoal infections. Although it is not currently approved for use in the United States, it was approved by a CDC study in the treatment of 4,371 cases of Entamoeba histolytica from 1977 to 1990.

Diloxanide is a luminal amebicide, however the mechanism of action of diloxanide is unknown. Diloxanide destroys the trophozoites of E. histolytica that eventually form into cysts. The cysts are then excreted by persons infected with asymptomatic amebiasis. Diloxanide furoate is a prodrug, and is hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract to produce diloxanide, the active ingredient.

Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole has an extremely broad spectrum antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities, with high activity against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Metronidazole is usually completely and rapidly absorbed after oral administration. The half-life in plasma is about 8 hours. About 10% of the drug is bound to plasma proteins. Metronidazole penetrates well into body tissues and fluids. The liver is the main site of metabolism. Both unchanged Metronidazole and metabolites are excreted in various proportions in the urine after oral administration.

Metronidazole treats amebiasis, trichomoniasis, and giardiasis, exerting both antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities. Metronidazole is an effective treatment for some anaerobic bacterial infections. Metronidazole has shown antibacterial activity against the majority of obligate anaerobes, however, during in vitro studies, it does not demonstrate significant action against facultative anaerobes or obligate aerobes. The nitro group reduction of metronidazole by anaerobic organisms is likely responsible for the drug's antimicrobial cytotoxic effects, causing DNA strand damage to microbes.

A note on convulsions and neuropathy and carcinogenesis

It is important to be aware of the risk of peripheral neuropathy and convulsions associated with metronidazole, especially at higher doses. If convulsions or numbness of an extremity occur, discontinue the drug immediately. Metronidazole has been found to be carcinogenic in mice and rats. The relevance to this effect in humans is unknown. It is advisable to only administer metronidazole when clinically necessary and only for its approved indications.

Meroid-d
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Meroid-d
Generic	Diloxanide + Metronidazole
Weight	500mg, 400mg
Type	Tablet
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer	Zanctok Pharmaceuticals
Available Country	Pakistan
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Diloxanide is used alone as a primary agent in the treatment of asymptomatic (cyst passers) intestinal amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica. Diloxanide may also be used concurrently, or sequentially, with other agents such as the nitroimidazoles (eg. metronidazole) in the treatment of invasive or extraintestinal forms of amebiasis.

Metronidazole is used for:

All forms of amoebiasis (intestinal and extra-intestinal disease including liver abscess and that of symptomless cyst passers)
Trichomoniasis
Giardiasis
Bacterial vaginosis
Acute ulcerative gingivitis
Anaerobic infections including septicaemia, bacteraemia, peritonitis, brain abscess, necrotising pneumonia, osteomyelitis, puerperal sepsis, pelvic abscess, pelvic cellulitis etc.
Anaerobically-infected leg ulcers and pressure sores
Acute dental infections (e.g. acute pericoronitis and acute apical infections)
Surgical prophylaxis (prevention of postoperative infections due to anaerobic bacteria, particularly species of bacteroides and anaerobic streptococci
Chronic symptomatic peptic ulcer disease (as an agent of triple therapy to eradicate H. pylori-the most important aetiological factor of peptic ulcer)

Meroid-d is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Abscess, Intra-Abdominal, Acne Rosacea, Amebiasis, Anaerobic Infection, Bacteremia, Bacterial Endocarditis, Bacterial Peritonitis, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Balantidiasis, Bloodstream Infections, Bone and Joint Infections, Brain abscess, CNS Infection, Candidal Vulvovaginitis, Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI), Empyema, Endometritis, Endomyometritis, Facial Rosacea, Giardiasis, Gynaecological infection, Helicobacter Pylori Infection, Infection, Bacteroides, Intraabdominal Infections, Lower Respiratory Infection, Lower respiratory tract infection bacterial, Lung Abscess, Meningitis, Mixed Vaginal Infections, Parasitic infection NOS, Periodontitis, Pneumonia, Postoperative Infections, Pouchitis, Septicemia bacterial anaerobic, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Bacterial Infections, Tetanus, Trichomonal Vaginitis, Trichomonas Vaginitis, Tubo-ovarian abscess, Urethritis, Vulvovaginitis, Asymptomatic Trichomoniasis, Entamoeba histolytica, Hepatic abscess, Refractory Sinusitis, Skin and skin-structure infections, Symptomatic Trichomoniasis, Asymptomatic Infections

How Meroid-d works

Unknown. Diloxanide may inhibit protein synthesis.

The exact mechanism of action of metronidazole has not been fully established, however, it is possible that an intermediate in the reduction of metronidazole which is only made by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa, binds deoxyribonucleic acid and electron-transport proteins of organisms, blocking nucleic acid synthesis. After administration, metronidazole enters cells by passive diffusion. Following this, ferredoxin or flavodoxin reduce its nitro group to nitro radicals. The redox potential of the electron transport portions of anaerobic or microaerophilic microorganisms renders metronidazole selective to these organisms, which cause nitro group reduction, leading to the production of toxic metabolites. These include N-(2-hydroxyethyl) oxamic acid and acetamide, which may damage DNA of replicating organisms.

Dosage

Meroid-d dosage

Tablet and Suspension:

Amoebic dysentery: Duration 5-10 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 750 mg t.i.d. Children- (7-10 years) 500 mg t.i.d. (3-7 years) 250 mg q.i.d. (1-3 years) 250 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 800 mg t.i.d. Children- (7-10 years) 500 mg t.i.d. (3-7 years) 200 mg q.i.d. (1-3 years) 200 mg t.i.d.

Asymptomatic amoebiasis: Duration 5-10 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500-750 mg t.i.d. Children- (7-10 years) 250-500 mg t.i.d. (3-7 years) 250 mg q.i.d. (1-3 years) 250 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500-800 mg t.i.d. Children- (7-10 years) 200-500 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 200 mg q.i.d.; (1-3 years) 200 mg t.i.d.

Hepatic extraintestinal amoebiasis : Duration 5-10 Days (or 2days);

For Tablet: Adults- 500-750 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 250-500 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 250 mg q.i.d.; (1-3 years) 250 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500-800 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 200-500 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 200 mg q.i.d.; (1-3 years) 200 mg t.i.d.

Giardiasis: Duration 3 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 2 g once daily; Children-(7-10 years) 1g once daily; (3-7 years) 750 mg once daily; (1-3 years) 500 mg once daily.
For suspension: Adults- 2 g once daily; Children-(7-10 years) 1g once daily; (3-7 years) 800 mg once daily; (1-3 years) 500 mg once daily.

Trichomoniasis: Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 250 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 200 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.

Trichomoniasis: Duration 1 Day;

For Tablet: Adults- 2 g single dose;
For Suspension: Adults- 2 g single dose;

Vincent's infection (Ulceration of mucous membrane of respiratory tract & mouth): Duration 3 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 250 mg t.i.d. or 500 mg b.i.d; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 200 mg t.i.d. or 500 mg b.i.d; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.

Periodontal infection: Duration 3 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 250 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 200 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.

Severe dental infection: Duration 3 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d.; Children- (7-10 years) 100 mg t.i.d.; (3-7 years) 100 mg b.i.d.; (1-3 years) 50 mg t.i.d.

Anaerobic infection: Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d.; Children- 7.5 mg/kg body weight t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d.; Children- 7.5 mg/kg body weight t.i.d.

Postoperative anaerobic infection (specially in operation abdominal or gynecological surgery): Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d. before and after operation; Children- 7.5 mg/kg body weight t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d. before and after operation; Children- 7.5 mg/kg body weight t.i.d.

Bacterial vaginitis: Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg b.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500 mg b.i.d.

Leg ulcers: Duration 1 Day;

For Tablet: Adults- 2 g as a single dose
For Suspension: Adults- 2 g as a single dose

Pressure sores: Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d.
For Suspension: Adults- 500 mg t.i.d.

H. pylori infection: Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg b.i.d
For Suspension: Adults-500 mg b.i.d

Antibiotic Associated Pseudomembranus colitis: Duration 7 Days;

For Tablet: Adults- 500 mg b.i.d
For Suspension: Adults- 500 mg b.i.d

Vaginal Gel:

The recommended dose is one applicator full of Metronidazole GEL (approximately 5 grams containing approximately 37.5 mg of Metronidazole) intravaginally once or twice a day for 5 days. For once a day dosing, Metronidazole GEL should be administered at bedtime.

Suppository:

Anaerobic infections:

Adult: 1 g 8 hrly for 3 days, then 12 hrly thereafter until oral medication is possible.
Child: 5-10 yr 500 mg. All doses to be given 8 hrly for 3 days, then 12 hrly thereafter until oral medication is possible.

Prophylaxis of postoperative anaerobic bacterial infections:

Adult: 1 g 2 hr before surgery, repeated 8 hrly for 3 days, then 12 hrly thereafter until oral medication is possible.
Child: 5-10 yr 500 mg 2 hr before surgery, repeated 8 hrly for 3 days, then 12 hrly thereafter until oral medication is possible.

IV Infusion:

Metronidazole injection should be infused intravenously at an approximate rate of 5 ml/min. Oral medication should be substituted as soon as feasible. Treatment for 7 days should be satisfactory for most patients, but the physician might decide to prolong treatment.

For bacterial infections: Adults: 500 mg (100 ml) 8 hourly. Children: 7.5 mg/kg (1.5 ml/kg) 8 hourly.
For treatment before and during surgery: Adults: 500 mg (100 ml) shortly before operation, repeated 8 hourly. Children: 7.5 mg/kg (1.5 ml/kg) 8 hourly

Side Effects

Side effects of Metronidazole include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, coated tongue, dryness of mouth and unpleasant metallic or bitter taste, headache, pruritus and skin rashes and less frequently, vertigo, depression, insomnia, drowsiness, urethral discomfort, and darkening of the urine. Occasionally there may be temporary moderate leucopenia. Peripheral neuropathy has been reported in patients on prolonged therapy.

Toxicity

LD50 information

The oral LD50 of metronidazole in rats is 5000 mg/kg

Overdose information

Adverse effects that may be exaggerated with an overdose include peripheral neuropathy, central nervous system toxicity, seizures, disulfiram-like effect (if combined with alcohol) dark urine, a metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, epigastric discomfort, and vertigo, in addition to neutropenia. There is no specific antidote for metronidazole overdose. Symptomatic and supportive treatment should be employed in addition to the administration of activated charcoal to remove the unabsorbed drug from the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to the above measures, contact the local poison control center for updated information on the management of a metronidazole overdose.

Precaution

Metronidazole should not be used in patients with blood dyscrasia. It is suggested that it should not be given in the first three months of pregnancy. When given in conjunction with alcohol, Metronidazole may provoke a disulphiram like effect.

Interaction

Metronidazole interacts with warfarin, nicoumalone, phenytoin, phenobarbitone, fluorouracil, disulfiram, lithium, cimetidine etc.

Volume of Distribution

Metronidazole is widely distributed throughout the body and various body fluids. They include the bile, saliva, breastmilk, cerebrospinal fluid, and the placenta. Steady-state volume distribution of metronidazole in adults ranges from 0.51 to 1.1 L/kg. It attains 60 to 100% of plasma concentrations in various tissues, such as the central nervous system, however, is not measured in high concentrations in the placental tissue.

Elimination Route

Bioavailability is 90% (in diloxanide parental form), however diloxanide furoate is slowly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

After the intravenous infusion of a 1.5g dose, peak concentration was reached within 1 hour and was peak level of 30-40 mg/L. When a multiple-dose regimen of 500mg three times a day administered intravenously, steady-state concentrations were achieved within about 3 days and peak concentration was measured at 26 mg/L. When administered orally in the tablet form, metronidazole is absorbed entirely absorbed, showing a bioavailability of greater than 90%. One resource indicates that Cmax after a single oral dose of 500mg metronidazole ranges from 8 to 13 mg/L, with a Tmax of 25 minutes to 4 hours. The AUC following a single 500mg oral dose of metronidazole was 122 ± 10.3 mg/L • h.

A note on the absorption of topical preparations

Insignificant percutaneous absorption of metronidazole occurs after the application of 1% metronidazole cream topically. Healthy volunteers applied one 100 mg dose of 14C-labelled metronidazole 2% cream to unbroken skin. After 12 hours, metronidazole was not detected in the plasma. Approximately 0.1% to 1% of the administered metronidazole was measured in the urine and feces.

Half Life

3 hours

The elimination half-life of metronidazole is 7.3 ± 1.0 after a single 500mg IV dose in healthy subjects. Another resource indicates that the elimination half-life for metronidazole ranges from 6 to 10 hours.

Clearance

Dose adjustments may be required in patients with hepatic impairment, as clearance is impaired in these patients. The clearance of metronidazole in the kidneys is estimated at 10 mL/min/1.73 m2. The total clearance from serum is about 2.1 to 6.4 L/h/kg.